The Austin After Dark Film Festival 2019 will be held at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Lakeline Saturday September 14, 9:30 P.M in Austin, Texas. This event will focus on films that are created for a mature audience. Enjoy a great slate of films in large cushioned seating, a massive theater screen, with access to 50 beers on tap and full restaurant while you watch films. Austin is a great independent film town and this event will be a lot of fun as well as a great opportunity to network with filmmakers and screenwriters.

Prizes and qualifications

The Austin After Dark Film Festival judges will present 22 awards, with 5 nominations in each category.

Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Animated Film
Best Cinematography
Best Comedy Film
Best Comedy Screenplay
Best Dark Comedy Film
Best Dark Comedy Screenplay
Best Director
Best Documentary Film
Best Drama Film
Best Editing
Best Experimental Film
Best Horror Film
Best Horror Comedy Film
Best Horror Screenplay
Best International Director
Best International Film
Best Original Music
Best Picture
Best Science Fiction Film
Best Science Fiction Screenplay

Rules

All films are eligible, regardless if they have distribution or not. All films are eligible even if they have been accepted to other film festivals. All films eligible, regardless of when and where they were produced. This festival does not accept screenplays at this time. For exhibition purposes. all films are expected to provide a download link, so that we can compile and project them on HD 1080p Blu-Ray DVD. 23.976, 24, 25 or 30 frame rates are accepted and will be converted to 23.976 for projection. Please do not submit 720p or Standard Definition films to this festival.

Short Film

Short Films >1' 30'<

Normal

Extended20$18$
31 Jul 19

Submissions deadline
31 July 2019

If you feel like your film does not fit any of the other categories and is between 1-30 minutes, you can submit it here.

Science Fiction Film

Short Films >1' 30'<

Normal

Extended20$18$
31 Jul 19

Submissions deadline
31 July 2019

This category is reserved for films that are exploring the future, time travel, space, disease outbreaks, experiments, aliens, or any other concept that involves technology that may not exist yet? Great sound design, musical score, cinematography, visual effects or special effects are appreciated by the judges. We have some science fiction enthusiasts on the judging team that can’t wait to see what you’ve created.

Music Video

Short Films >1' 6'<

Normal

Extended20$18$
31 Jul 19

Submissions deadline
31 July 2019

This category is reserved for music videos of all musical genres. The judges are impressed by good stories, great acting, excellent cinematography, and cool editing that syncs really well with the music.If your music video is publicly available on Vimeo, Vevo or YouTube, your submission is qualified for entry. Official selections, nominations or awards on the Film Festival Circuit may help your video get exposure. The time limit for the Music Video category is five minutes and fifty nine seconds (05:59) including all credits.

Horror Film

Short Films >1' 30'<

Normal

Extended20$18$
31 Jul 19

Submissions deadline
31 July 2019

This category is reserved for creative and scary Horror Films that have adrenaline pumping moments. Do you have a film that was intentionally created to scare people? Does your film depict any horrifying action sequences, blood, gore, monsters, psychotic people, slashing, stalking, zombies, vampires, disease outbreaks, demonic possession, haunted buildings, or any other elements that would classify your film as a true horror film? Great sound design, musical score, cinematography, visual effects or special effects are appreciated by the judges.

Experimental Film

Short Films >1' 30'<

Normal

Extended20$18$
31 Jul 19

Submissions deadline
31 July 2019

This category is reserved for films that are outside of the Hollywood mainstream. Creative works that some would consider odd, strange, artistic, weird, innovative, fresh, enlightening, inspirational, confusing, mysterious, futuristic, retro, or difficult to classify. Experimental films must have some element that has something truly unique about it.

Documentary Film

Short Films >1' 30'<

Normal

Extended20$18$
31 Jul 19

Submissions deadline
31 July 2019

This category is reserved for documentary films with thought provoking short stories about real life, interesting people, great stories, historical research, medical issues, sports stories, coming of age stories, political issues, war stories, racism, gender issues, LGBTQ stories, social justice issues, artists, musicians, actors, professionals, technologies, or some kind of non-fiction story. All flavors of well documented films and stories are eligible from anywhere in the world, and in any language (with English subtitles or voice-over.)

Drama Film

Short Films >1' 30'<

Normal

Extended20$18$
31 Jul 19

Submissions deadline
31 July 2019

This category is reserved for films with real-life stories, people and situations of a more serious nature. Films that have strong acting and great writing. Films that bring out emotions in the audience are what the judges are looking for. Strong drama films deal with everything from romance and family relationships to post traumatic stress disorder, depression and loss of life. Medical dramas, stories about overcoming adversity, period dramas, sports stories, immigration issues, poverty, coming of age stories, have all screened at this event in the past. Beautiful cinematography, good production value and great music are viewed favorably by our judges, especially in the drama category.

Dark Comedy Film

Short Films >1' 30'<

Normal

Extended20$18$
31 Jul 19

Submissions deadline
31 July 2019

This category is reserved for films that are on the darker side of the comedy genre. Sometimes referred to as “Black Comedy” these films have a sick sense of humor and may not be suitable for mainstream festivals. Often times these films end with the death of a character or have some strange gruesome scenes. Dark comedy films can make you laugh and cringe at the same time. If your audience laughs and then says “that’s messed up,” then you’ve probably produced something pretty dark. This event has screened dark comedy films that feature strange cruelty, or feature characters that are trying to get rid of a dead body, or they accidentally poison the wrong person, or even dream of murders, dark situations and revenge with strange dark comedic elements.

Comedy Film

Short Films >1' 30'<

Normal

Extended20$18$
31 Jul 19

Submissions deadline
31 July 2019

This category is reserved for films that make people laugh. The judges are looking for films that have funny moments, comedic situations, fun dialogue, humorous acting, and great characters. This event has screened great musicals, sketch comedy, stand-up comedy, family comedy, silent comedy, slapstick comedy, romantic comedy, action comedy, student comedy, mockumentary, web series episodes, comedy TV pilots, fake commercials and more at our past events.

Animated Film

Short Films >1' 30'<

Normal

Extended20$18$
31 Jul 19

Submissions deadline
31 July 2019

This category is reserved for cartoons, 2D animation, 3D animation, clay animation, sand animation, Anime, Computer Graphics, Puppetry Animation, Stop-Motion, Flip Book Animation, Experimental Animation and any form of animated films that may exist, but we haven't listed. Films that have a mixture of animated elements and live action characters are eligible for this category as well.

Action Film

Short Films >1' 30'<

Normal

Extended20$18$
31 Jul 19

Submissions deadline
31 July 2019

This category is reserved for films with intense action, fighting, chase scenes, driving sequences, acrobatics, gun fights, martial arts, or some element that fuels the audience with adrenaline. The judges are looking for tense moments, strong editing and good sound design.